Confirmed measles case southwest of Tarrant County; infections rise to 422 in Texas
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Measles in Texas
Tarrant County has confirmed its first measles cases. Follow our reporting on the Texas outbreak.
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The number of measles cases in Texas has grown to 422 infections as of April 1, including the first known case in Erath County, about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
The 422 confirmed cases since January is an increase of 400 from Friday.
In the latest data, the Texas Department of State Health Services says five of the people infected had taken at least one vaccine dose. The majority of patients — 310 cases — have been in children. One child who was not vaccinated died in February.
The highly contagious measles virus can cause high fiver, cough, conjunctivitis and rash. Symptoms can appear seven to 14 days after exposure. Serious complications, especially in kids under 5, can include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis.
Measles spreads in the air and can infect people in a room up to two hours after the sick person has left.
Forty-two people have been hospitalized so far in this outbreak.
Measles outbreak in Texas: Locations
As of Tuesday, almost all of the cases have been in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of western Texas, with the exception of 10 cases in Lamar County, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas; one new case in Erath, where Stephenville is the county seat; and one new case in Brown County.
Tarrant County health authorities have warned that there’s a “high risk” of measles cases here due to lower vaccination rates. The virus is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are unvaccinated.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is tracking five outbreaks as of last Thursday, with 483 confirmed measles cases at the time and two deaths in 20 states. The majority of cases are in Texas and New Mexico.
How to prevent measles cases
Texas health authorities say the best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of the vaccine, which is “highly effective.” It takes about 14 days to develop immunity.
Measles vaccination rates have dipped so low in Tarrant County that about one-third of elementary schools could not prevent an outbreak if a child came to school while infected, according to a Star-Telegram analysis of school vaccination data.
The vaccination rate among kindergartners in Tarrant County is around 91.5%. The ideal threshold to avoid cases of measles popping up is 95%.
Texas counties with measles as of April 1, 2025
Here are the latest numbers by Texas county:
- Andrews: 1
- Brown: 1 (new)
- Cochran: 8
- Dallam: 7
- Dawson: 14
- Ector: 5
- Erath: 1 (new)
- Gaines: 280
- Garza: 2
- Hale: 1
- Hockley: 2
- Lamar: 10
- Lamb: 1
- Lubbock: 27
- Lynn: 1
- Martin: 3
- Midland: 1 (new)
- Terry: 41
- Yoakum: 16
What happens when measles cases are in Tarrant County?
If you’re a parent and you suspect you or your child has measles, the first step is to call your primary care doctor or whoever provides medical care to your family, says Kennedy Sam, a spokesperson for Tarrant County Public Health.
Calling ahead before showing up to a medical facility is crucial, so staff can take precautions to protect other patients in waiting areas.
A mobile strike team is on standby to test and provide vaccinations “for those who qualify and wish to receive one” in the event of a confirmed measles case, Sam told the Star-Telegram in early March.
An outbreak involving more than two locations in Tarrant County would prompt officials to open a testing and vaccination site that could serve 250 to 1,500 people daily. The health department is also adding measles PCR testing capability to its lab, but the process was expected to take several weeks.
“Until then, we are sending test swabs either to Quest (Diagnostics) or the state lab,” Sam said, noting this process has a 48-hour turnaround for results.
This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Confirmed measles case southwest of Tarrant County; infections rise to 422 in Texas."
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